Ms Phil Moore:

To give members some idea of the company profile, Fingal Leader Partnership, FLP, is a not-for-profit organisation with charitable status. The company was established in 2009 following the Government cohesion process which saw Rural Dublin LEADER Company Limited merge with Co-operation Fingal, which was a community partnership at the time. FLP has extensive experience and expertise in the delivery of the Leader programme across the Dublin rural sub-region, which encompasses the three local authority areas of South Dublin county, Dún Laoghaoire-Rathdown and Fingal. The company also delivers other programmes such as the Tús programme, the Jobs Club programme and the Care and Repair programme. Previously it would have delivered a substantial number of social inclusion-type programmes but currently that is the level of its involvement.

I have been working in community development since I entered employment. I completed a BSc honours degree in rural development and have worked on the rural Dublin Leader programme since 1997. I first started as a development officer and therefore I have extensive experience of working with the communities, small businesses and various other individuals in the crafts sector, niche food sector and so on. I am currently working as acting chief executive officer with the company as the recruitment process continues. I had a key role in the research and development of both the 2007-2013 programme strategy and the 2014-2020 strategy. As a development officer, I have cemented strong links with the communities and businesses of the rural areas and have achieved many excellent projects in both sectors. I also have a strong working relationship with the many key agencies and the local authorities which assist the rural areas in their efforts to achieve sustainability and address the many challenges these communities face.

In terms of the operational area, the rural area of Dublin comprises 410 sq. km, which is 42,000 ha, which is approximately 51% of the total area of the three relevant local authorities. However, the population in this area is 66,603, accounting for only 13% of the total population of the three local authority areas. Compared with the urban areas of these local authorities, this reflects a relatively less densely populated area.

The Dublin rural area is a peri-urban region, heavily influenced by the urban area within County Dublin, where the urban environment transitions into the rural environment. The physical landscapes are varied, with the Dublin Mountains to the south, arable pasture to the north and west, rivers and streams throughout, nearly 34 km of coastline to the north east, and interspersed with vibrant towns and villages. However, while this landscape remains predominantly rural, the relationships with the urban core are numerous and complex, influencing employment, demographics and household characteristics. Furthermore, population growth is resulting in urbanisation and the loss of rural and agriculture lands as parts of the county are ceded to residential requirements. For the residents of urban Dublin, its rural hinterland is an enviable location for recreation and amenity and an escape into nature. The peri-urban region is under expansionary residential and commercial pressures, resulting in rural towns and villages experiencing many challenges, not least the changing demographic in terms of population, with many diverse communities now residing in the Dublin rural area.

The effect of these pressures is a factor in the reduction in farm numbers and size between 1991 and 2010. The number of farms in County Dublin fell by 47.2% during this 19-year period, resulting in a 22.9% reduction in the area of land farmed. These changes and challenges are not unique to the Dublin rural area, but its proximity to Dublin city brings additional pressures which heighten the issues in the Dublin rural towns and villages.

In summary, the issues faced in the Dublin peri-urban area differ slightly from those experienced in the more traditional rural areas. They include the loss of rural identity; the loss of cultural heritage; the loss of open space; the threat to the rural landscape; the threat to the rural environment and biodiversity; large growth in population with poor or no matching service provision; a growing youth population requiring early intervention to prevent problems; and issues arising from increased in-migration of residents of diverse cultures without social interaction opportunities for old and new residents.